Shallow water costal sailer

[mark west]

Thin water sail boats suggestions. Some days the sandy mud bottom of river by our dock is close to the top of water. Mostly 3to 5 foot but 1 or2 times a year wind blows water out .want sail boat that can set on bottom if I'm not their to anchor out in deep water. More I study more I seem to read information biased dy what they owne.ok 22-24 ft swing keel but some swing up flush with bottom some swing up into keel box 1 to 1.5 out bottom the 1st might set better in bottom 2 nd style more room inside. Any suggestions average deepth of river6-8ft want to week end sail The Albamarle sound over nights boat will stay at dock during season pulled out in winter won't be hauling boat around .launch and set up once a year

 

[fred1diver]

I'm not sure about the brand, but I've seen sailboats with twin keel, one on either side, so it can somewhat be left out of the water

 

[David in Sandusky]

Check out the Corsair F series trimarans. Decent cabin space, real speed, and minimum draft.

 

[Benny17441]

What's the problem?

 

[Gene S]

The brand of boat I have has a swing keel model that can do that.

 

[flynhi4u]

What's the problem?

That is a OH CRAP moment. Just for the record, I am not that Sam

Sam

 

[Daveinet]

Do you like to go fast? Check out an RL24. It is designed to be beachable, with just under a 1 ft draft. It was designed in Australia by Rob Legg. He licensed a builder in the US, which built about 500 boats for the US market. They don't come up for sale real often, but if you look, they are around. Both the keel and the rudder swing completely up, so grounding is not a problem. Interior headroom is 4'9", which is pretty typical for the size boat.
The boat sails very well, and is known for sailing upwind like nobody's business. The centerboard is a little light, and you may hear some comments that the boat is tender. I'm not sure what that means, I've been out in 30 mph winds and had a blast. There is enough substance to the centerboard, so that even though the boat will heal, it must push a lot of water out of the way to knock it over. This means when you get hit by a gust, you have all day to respond, and spill wind from the main. The boat was designed to sail off the coast of Australia, so I don't see rough conditions being an issue. The boat does have full flotation, which many boats over 20 feet will not have. It is self righting. I have seen test photos of one laying on it's side. But the boat is so light, the water does not even come close to spilling into the hatch.
I should also add, you can check my YouTube channel for video of the boat under sail.

 

[Bosman]

This would work... TES 24.

 

[BudGates]

I'm not sure about the brand, but I've seen sailboats with twin keel, one on either side, so it can somewhat be left out of the water

I have no personal experience with them but a twin keel might be worth looking into. They are less popular than others but I have seen some in your size range around.

 

[justsomeguy]

I'm not sure about the brand, but I've seen sailboats with twin keel, one on either side, so it can somewhat be left out of the water

There's a British knock-off of a Catalina called a Jaguar.

 

[Daveinet]

If the boat sits on its keel, you will need a ladder to get in it. I would also suggest that if you trying to come up to a shallow dock, and the water is only two feet deep, you will never make it to the dock. A centerboard that swings up fully inside the cabin allows for a much shallower draft. Secondly, if you run the nose of the boat up on shore, it becomes very easy to sit in the back of the boat, and rock it off the bottom enough to get the boat off. If the boat is resting on its keel, you will be hard pressed to ever get the boat off the shore until the water level comes back up. This will limit when you can use the boat.

 

[DSqr]

Wells Marine, a British builder had a series of twin keel boats that started at 18' (Alacrity). I had the 20' Vivacity, which was a good boat for bay sailing (Sandy Hook, NJ), but I've also seen some in the 23+ range.

 

[mark west]

Thanks for the help I was thinking 21-23 ft boat keel retracts flush to bottom. sloop ridged ,self righting, over night accommodations. I would single sail half the time .would like to buy well built, a good safe sailing, some performance could you recommend manufacturer, models to search for thanks again for input Mark

 

[Brian S]

I don't know there are too many boats that the swing keel or lifting keel goes up all the way into the hull. Some of the Seawards might... Nope, the Seaward 22 is a shoal keel/centerboard combo... Most swing keels I see don't go all the way up into the hull. The West Wight Potter 19 has a lifting keel that goes all the way into the boat. Known for it's beachability. There are plenty of shoal draft ballasted stub keel/centerboard combo boats in this size range, but they won't dry out on the stub keel.

 

[Karyon]

Try a San Juan 21, swingkeel goes all the way in, and they are a fast fun sailer.To bad that the last one was build in the early 80's, The boat it self is an all flush deck, in my opinion not the most attractive looking boat.

My second boat was a San juan21 and she was a hoot in a good stiff breeze.

 

[Sumner]

A Macgregor 26S, S for swing centerboard that retracts all the way up into a trunk. It's rudder also swings up and the boat will float in about 16 inches of water and...

...I've had mine resting on the bottom, like in the picture above while in the Bahamas with no problems.

I've also beached her many times and being water-ballasted she is as light on a trailer as most boats in the 20'-23' range at 1800#'s and has way more room inside and standing room with the pop-top up. It makes a great cruiser for longer trips if you decide to venture out past a weekend in the future. It is not as fast as the RL24 but has a lot more room inside and is faster than about any of the other sub 25' boats mentioned.

Love mine,

Sumner
==================================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

MW;

I use to be a sailboat dealer out or Zebulon, NC (retired) and delivered many boats to Hertford, NC as American Marine & Sail Supply, Inc. Are you in the gated community there or simply live along the river. In addition, the fellows who still make the Rhodes 22 and do broker a few I believe are located near you. If you want some sound advice from a retired sailboat dealer who served that area for years, contact me via the forum email with name and phone number. I sold too many trailerables. American Fiberglass was a California company many years ago but there was another that went by that same name but a little different depending on the length of boat. Not sure what you have or asking but If you want me to call and give you some pointers for the area, I can.

Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Bad Obsession]

You could always look at the Compac 23. Good boat, company still in business, lots around to look at, tough boat, and a fixed draft at 2.5 feet.

 

[Broke with boats]

The Westerly Pageant and warwick are both twin keel boats. Several for sale in FL. and was one in Lake Geneva Wis.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I would be looking at catamaran and trimaran boats. if you have to actually sail in 2'